Direction indicator



my 7, 1936u Aa.` SCHWARZ DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed May 31, 1928 PatentedJuly 7, 1936 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICEV DIRECTION INDICATOR AlfredSchwarz, Eisenach, Germany Application May 31, 1928, Serial No. 281,982In Germany January 12, 1928 t somma. (ci. 17T- 323) This inventionrelates to direction indicators, in which the pulling element exerts thepull upon the indicator arm through the intermediary of intermediateelements.

.5 vAccording to the invention the pull element is hingedly connectedthrough a link to an intermediate element which is connected by a pivotbolt with the indicator arm. This intermediate element serves tosecurely hold the indicator arm l in the inoperative position by bearingagainst a supportingy spring arranged on the wall of the casing of theindicator, the indicator arm being controlled by. a plate spring iixedto the intermediate element. This form of construction la presents theadvantage that a less great pulling moment than hitherto is necessaryfor operating the indicator arm. The returning of the intermediateelement designed to secure the indicator arm in its inoperative positionis effected from the indicator arm through the intermediary of the platespring. l

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated, by way of example, in theaccompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of part of theindicator showing the same in the locked and inoperative position.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of part of the indicator in the inoperativeposition the locking device t being released.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of part ofv the indicator in the oscillatedindicating position.

Fig. 4 is a diagram of forces; and Fig. 5 shows a modiiied form ofconstruction. The pull element consists, according to the invention, ofan electromagnet the core I of which is hingedly connected by a link 2Ato an intermediate element 3 which, by a pivot pin 4, is connected tothe indicator arm 3 oscllatably mounted in its turn on a bolt 9. A platespring 6 is flxed to the intermediate element 3 which has a projectingnose 5.

This nose 5 serves after the removing of the locking means to strikeagainst the indicator arm 8 or a part connected to the arm so that thepull element canV lift the indicator arm with the aid of theintermediate element 3. The nose 5 Is not absolutely necessary and mightbe omitted. The intermediate element 3 may also be constructed andarranged in a different manner without departing from the scope of theinvention.

A supporting spring I I is fixed on the casing I0 and holds the member 3so as to cause the line passing through its two pivot points to lie in apractically horizontal plane.

The operation is as fol1oWs:-. When the core I of the electromagnet ispulled the intermediate element 3 loses its supporting `5 point onspring II on the casing I0. The magnet core I pulls through the link 2the intermediate element 3 in downward direction whereby the locking forthe indicator arm 8 is released. The spring 6 is thereby put undertension until 10 the nose 5 bears against this spring (Fig. 2). Theelectromagnet working with a little pulling moment begins then to actupon the indicator arm 8, which is thus lifted into the indicatingposition (Fig. 3). As soon as the circuit is l5 opened, the arm 8returns by gravity into the inoperative rposition in pulling up theamature I,

the link 2 and the intermediate element, whereby the plate spring 6 isput under tension, which bears against the pivot bolt 9. Through theten- 20 sion of spring 6 the intermediate element is pulled into theposition shown in Fig. 1 so that the mechanism is again ready for use.

The diagram of forces (Fig. 4) shows that the central axis of the core Iis situated at the move- 25 ment of the indicator arm outside the curvedescribed by the connection point between the intermediate element 3 andthe link 2.

The intermediate element 3 might also bear directly or indirectlyagainst the casing, In the 30 form of construction as shown in Fig. 5 aspring II is iixed on the casing and a set screw I2 is arranged on saidspring for regulating the tension of the spring. The intermediateelement 3 bears in this case, as shown in 1, against 35 the casingthrough the intermediary of the spring II. In the form of constructionshown in Fig. 5, the intermediate piece is directly supported by thewall of the casing I0.

I claimz- 40 1. In a vehicle direction indicator, a support having anabutment, an elongated signal element, means pivoting said signalelement on said lsupport at a point intermediate its ends to provide ashorter portion beyond the pivot and to .cause 45 the signal element toassume a normal position with respect to said support, a pull-member,means mounting said pull member for movement along a line parallel tothe normal position of said signal, a link pivoted at one end to an endoi said 50 pull-member, an intermediate member pivoted to the shorterportion of the signal adjacent its pivot and to the other end of thelink, and resilient means acting between the shorter signal portion andthe intermediate member tending to hold the 55 .latter in such positionthat a line connecting its pivots will be substantially at right anglesto the lergth of the signal and direction i' movement of he pull-member,said support including a portion forming an abutment for the end of theintermediate member connected to the link to prevent movement of thesaid end away from the signal element when the latter is in its normalposition.

2. A signaling apparatus including an elongated casing having an openside, a signal arm, means pivoting said arm adjacent one end of saidcasing, said signal arm lying normally within said casing, the signalarm being provided with a crank portion extending in the direction ofthe length of the casing and on the opposite side of said pivotingmeans, a bell-crank lever pivoted on said extension with one portionextending generally in the direction of the length of the casing andtoward said pivoting means when the signal arm is in its normal positionand a second portion extending substantially at right angles. to saidilrst named portion, an operating member having a -pivotal connectionwith the second portion of said nal to lock the latter against abnormalmovement.

3. A signaling apparatus including an elongated casing having an openside, a signal arm, means pivoting said arm adjacent one end of saidcasing, said signal arm lying normally within said casing, the signalarm being provided with a crank portion extending in the direction ofthe length of the casing and on the opposite side of said pivotingmeans, a bell-crank lever pivoted on said extension with one portionextending generally in the direction of the length of the casing andtoward said pivoting means, and a second portion extending substantiallyat right angles to said first named portion, a solenoid extendingsubstantially parallel to the length of the casing, a core in saidsolenoid pivotally connected to the second portion of the bell-cranklever, said bellcrank lever having a portion adapted to engage with acooperating portion of the casing in the normal inoperative position ofthe signal to lock the latter against abnormal movement, spring meansreacting between the signal arm and the rst named portion of thebell-crank lever to prevent jarring out of the arm when said solenoid isnot energized.

4. In combination with the circuiarly moving arm of a directionalsignal, means for activating the arm comprising a bell-crank leverfulcrumed to the arm and circularly movable relative to the latter to alimited extent, means for holding the 2 bell-crank yieldingly in normalposition, and means whereby the bell-crank'lever may be turned about itsfulcrum to said limited extent and the arm may be then turned about itsiulcrum by the bell-crank lever.

5. In combination with a directional signal, comprising a lever of therst order having its fulcrum near one end, activating means for thesignaling lever including a yieldingly operating bell-crank leverjournaled to the shorter arm of 35 the signaling lever, and means foractivating the bell-crank lever to causey it to drive the other leverbut to give the bell-crank lever an initial independent movement.

ALFRED SCHWARZ.

